Japanese word

くちばし

Pronunciation

Romajikuchibashi

Meaning

  • nounbeak

Example

この鳥はくちばしが短いです。ko no tori wa ku chi ba shi ga mijika i de su

This bird's beak is short.

Illustration for くちばし (beak)

More examples

その鳥は硬い木の実をくちばしで割ります。so no tori wa kata i ko no mi o ku chi ba shi de wa ri ma su

That bird cracks hard nuts with its beak.

Core concept

Names the hard, projecting mouthpart that birds use to take in food and perform other actions.

Common phrases

  • くちばしが黄色いku chi ba shi ga ki iro i

    have a yellow beak

  • くちばしを鳴らすku chi ba shi o na ra su

    click one's beak

  • くちばしで餌をついばむku chi ba shi de esa o tsu i ba mu

    pick at food with one's beak

Definition in Japanese

鳥の口先にある、物をついばんだり運んだりする硬い部分。tori no kuchi saki ni a ru mono o tsu i ba n da ri hako n da ri su ru kata i bu bun

Word origin

The native Japanese word くちばし (kuchibashi) is traditionally analyzed as 口 (kuchi, "mouth") plus 端 (hashi, "edge"), describing the edge of a bird's mouth.

Usage tips

  • In English, bill often describes the broad, flat beak of ducks and similar birds, while beak is the general term for this bird part.

Other meanings

  • billnoun

Word lists with this word